A dispute over public access to a beach in Sussex, England, escalated when a resident shot a security camera with an air rifle, causing significant damage. Michael Tuson, 44, pleaded guilty to shooting the camera and possessing an imitation firearm in a public place, receiving a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and a £500 fine.
The incident occurred on June 24, when a group of approximately 100 people cut through a padlock on the gates of West Beach in Newhaven during a heatwave and entered the premises. The beach, described as "lovely and sandy," has been inaccessible to the public since 2008 when its owner, a French company, erected fencing and razor wire.
During the protest, Tuson aimed an air rifle at a security camera. A court heard that he shot at the camera through the window of his van, causing £5,000 worth of damage. The act was described by Judge Stephen Mooney as an act of "gross stupidity," noting that the incident had gained local notoriety and was not a spontaneous act, given the publicity surrounding the beach's closure.
West Beach is managed by Newhaven Port & Properties, which is owned by public bodies in Seine-Maritime, France. The beach was originally closed for safety reasons. Following the recent protest, enhanced security measures have been implemented.
Police identified Tuson after his van was captured on the camera's footage. He was arrested in Eastbourne on suspicion of criminal damage. Sussex Police stated they are collaborating with the port authority and local council to mitigate future incidents.
Local Member of Parliament James MacCleary has been actively campaigning to reopen the beach. He has emphasized that the effort is about fairness and community access, not an anti-French sentiment. MacCleary has introduced legislation, the West Beach Bill, aiming to address the long-standing closure of the public amenity, while acknowledging the importance of safety and harbor operations.
The unique legal status of West Beach, created artificially during late 19th-century pier construction, means it is considered part of the port owned by the French company, rather than falling under the jurisdiction of bodies like the Crown Estate, National Trust, or Ministry of Defence that typically manage British coastlines. This legal quirk has contributed to the prolonged closure and the ongoing dispute over public access.